Community

Daily Buzz | Where to Celebrate With Your Neighbors This Weekend

And, town committee works to connect Burlington residents with the services they need

Nicci Kadilak

Feb 9, 2024 — 7 min read

Good Morning, Neighbor!

The Buzz was able to visit the grand openings of Yas Chicken and H&M yesterday, and let me tell you. Yas has some of the best, crispiest fries in town, and H&M was having a regular dance party in the middle of the mall. I chatted with Buzz reader, Rufina, and her kids Joel and Jessica as they exited with a bag stuffed with clothing. “This is her favorite store,” said Rufina of her daughter. “She’s been counting down the days.” The store is packed with basics—solid t-shirts, sweatpants, and more—as well as kids’ clothes and some classic hoodies. They even had a Formula 1 hoodie, which superfan Joel was happy to find. We hope H&M adds larger sizes into the mix soon, as there was very little in stock above size 12. (The average US woman wears a size 16.)

Two exciting grand openings in Burlington yesterday.

It’s been quite the busy week in Burlington, and this weekend promises to be no different. From Black History Month and Lunar New Year (Today is New Year’s Eve!), to the Shrek Character Breakfast and pre-Valentine’s activities and more, there is a lot to celebrate in and around Burlington. Don’t forget to share with the Buzz how you observe these holidays. Already some families have added stories to our Lunar New Year Community Celebrations feature, and it’s looking amazing! Share how you mark Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, or any other holiday or tradition, with us via email.

The schedule of events for the next three days below will give you all the info you need to celebrate from start to finish this weekend. Be sure to check it out!

Town Committee Working to Connect Burlington Residents With the Services They Need

Burlington’s Human Services Committee has been working to make services more accessible to the Burlington residents who need them. Whether the need is fuel assistance, help with medical insurance applications, or a ride to the grocery store, the Committee’s vision is that any Burlington resident can find any information they need in one easy-to-use resource.

Members of the Committee met with representatives of area service organizations on January 31 for their quarterly coordination meeting. During these meetups, agencies from the food pantry to the Council on Aging to HELPIS to the police department and more learn more about the work each agency does, special initiatives they’re working on, and how they can work together to ensure every resident has the support and resources they need to live a fulfilling live in Burlington.

As a part of this work, the Buzz worked this week to update the resource list we created back in June of 2022 with more complete and updated information.

Need help paying your utility bills? Can’t figure out how to start your MassHealth application? Need counseling? This list will help you get to where you need to go. Look out for even more well-organized and user-friendly information from the town soon!

☕ Tip Jar ☕

Today and This Weekend in Burlington

Municipal Meetings and Community Events

Friday, February 9

11:00-11:45 AM - Valentine’s Day Tea Party - Bring your little ones, ages 2-6, to the library for tea (juice) and cookies, and some stories around the Valentine’s theme. (Library; Register)
4:00 PM - Read to Therapy Dogs - Young readers can take turns, with 10 minute slots, strengthening their reading skills by practicing reading books to some very patient pups named Penny or Piper. Learn more about the benefits of reading to dogs. (Woburn Public Library: 45 Pleasant St, Woburn)
5:00-9:00 PM - Arlington Brewing Co. Pop Up Taproom - Take a short trip to Arlington with a friend and relax after a long week by listening to some music. Grab a beer and try the new, expanded menu. (Roasted Granola Cafe: 1346 Mass Ave, Arlington)
Lunar New Year dinner at Karma Asian Fusion Restaurant (Burlington Mall, Reservations are required)

Saturday, February 10

Black History Month Celebration Weekend at the Museum of Science, featuring special speakers and presentations, family activities, and performance and community groups from the Boston area:
- A Beautiful Resistance: Family Edition
- Cliff Notez
- OOMPA
- Dutch ReBelle
- OrigiNation
Also featuring a special exhibit, ReRooted: What’s Hair Got to Do with It?
Black Women in Science: The Legacy of Annie Malone - From the Acton Discovery Museum website: Malone was “a groundbreaking entrepreneur who used her passion for chemistry, and hair, to become a pioneer in the Black beauty and cosmetics industry.” (Acton Discovery Museum)
12:00-3:00 PM - Live ice sculpting - including live music and deals from local stores. Bring the family! (3rd Ave)
8:00-11:00 AM - Character Breakfast to Benefit Adopt-A-Class 2031 - Treat the kids to a yummy breakfast and get a chance to see some characters from the movie Shrek. The proceeds will benefit this year’s 5th graders. There are still tickets available; get yours now! (Tony C’s: 3rd AveTickets)
10:30-11:30 AM - Music & Movement with Miss Julie - Little kids, ages 0-5, bring your parents or caregivers and wiggle and giggle this Saturday morning! (Library; Drop In)
10:30 AM-12:00 PM - Galentine’s Day Brunch for 20s & 30s - Geared towards readers, share your favorite romance recommendations. Celebrate the strong women in your life! (Tavern in the Square: 300 Mishawum Rd, Woburn)
Mei Mei's Lunar New Year Celebration: Enjoy a lion dance, lantern creating, and dumpling making, along with raffles and prizes. Only a few tickets remain; get yours now! (Mei Mei’s Dumplings, South Boston)
Lunar New Year Festival at Peabody Essex Museum: Enjoy folktales and live music to celebrate the holiday. (Salem)
Lunar New Year dinner at Karma Asian Fusion Restaurant (Burlington Mall, Reservations are required)
Make dinner reservations at Pagu, the Cambridge restaurant led by James Beard Award semifinalist Tracy Chang. (Cambridge)
5:00-8:00 PM - Ziti with your Sweetie - A fun Valentine’s Day family dinner, organized by the Memorial School PTO. Food, dancing, a DJ, and a cash bar ensure there is something fun for everyone! (American Legion; Tickets)

Sunday, February 11

Black History Month Celebration Weekend at the Museum of Science, featuring special speakers and presentations, family activities, and performance and community groups from the Boston area:
- A Beautiful Resistance: Family Edition
- Cliff Notez
- OOMPA
- Dutch ReBelle
- OrigiNation
Also featuring a special exhibit, ReRooted: What’s Hair Got to Do with It?
New Art Center's crafts and cultural performances for Lunar New Year: Free drop-in art for families, as well as dance and music performances. (Newton)
11:00 AM-12:30PM - Valentine’s Day Tea Party - Make sure to get your tickets for the social event of the season! Princess Aurora will host one of her renowned tea parties with scrumptious treats, tea and lots of singing and dancing. Hosted by Kim’s Candy Buffet and Beaded by Gina, two local women-owned businesses. (Grand View Farm; Tickets)
11:00 AM - Brunch and Brush Paint Party - The theme of this painting is a Buzz favorite: FLORAL CHICKEN! A light continental breakfast will be included, but make sure to BYOB. Bring your friends and let’s get painting! Definitely share your masterpieces on social media and PLEASE tag us #BurlingtonBuzz we can’t wait to see all the floral chickens! (Made in Burlington; Tickets)
11:00 AM-5:00 PM - Free Robotics Workshop - Hopefully you were able to secure a spot in this popular free activity. If not, visit their website for lots more activities right here in Burlington. (Academy of Creative Arts)
Dining at Pagu, the Cambridge restaurant led by James Beard Award semifinalist Tracy Chang. (Cambridge)
1:00-5:00 PM - Belmont Chinese American Association Cultural Festival (Beech Street Center, Belmont; free admission, all are welcome)
6:00 PM - Paris in Moonlight Paint Party - Let’s take a trip without the long plane ride and the airport hassles. Invite your neighbors and friends to join you in Paris to end the week. Bring a bottle of wine if you like. Berets encouraged, but not required! Share your photos on social media and tag us at #BurlingtonBuzz (Made in Burlington; Tickets)

Sports and Activities

Lady Devils hockey bested the only remaining undefeated team, winning with a score of 2-0 to bring their record to 13-1-2, the best in BHS history. We can’t wait to see what the post-season brings!

Tonight we’ve got Basketball in Wilmington, with boys playing at 4:00 (JV) and 5:30 (V) and girls playing at 5:30 (JV) and 7:00 (V). JV games are at Wilmington Middle School, and varsity teams play at Wilmington High. Freshman boys host Wilmington at MSMS at 4:00.